• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “probably that” but functioning as a conjunction meaning “unless” or “except if.” It introduces a condition that would be the only exception to what was just stated. For example: “Przyjdę, chyba że będzie lało” — “I’ll come, unless it’s pouring.” It is one of the most common connectors in everyday Polish speech and appears constantly in both spoken and written language.

  Vocabulary

  • chyba — probably, I suppose, I guess
  • że — that (conjunction)
  • chyba że — unless, except if, unless of course

  Grammar note

  Although 'chyba' alone means 'probably,' the fixed combination 'chyba że' functions as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'unless.' The clause that follows is typically in the future tense when expressing a real condition (e.g. 'chyba że przyjdzie') or in the conditional when hypothetical. Do not confuse with 'jeśli nie' (if not), which is more formal.

  Cultural context

  This phrase appears in virtually every register of Polish — casual conversation, professional emails, and literature alike. Because of its ubiquity, mastering it early is important for sounding natural. It often appears at the end of a statement as a spoken afterthought: 'Zróbmy to jutro, chyba że masz coś innego.'

  Beginner

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!